|
Location / Diving / What's Included / What's Not Included / Gratuities / Pre-Trip Preparation / Travel Documents / Trip Insurance / Diving Paperwork / Packing / Emergency Procdures / Precautions / Food / Beverages / Entertainment / Electricity / Local Currency / Dive Equipment Rental Dive Gear / Photographic Equipment / E-6 Processing / Equipment Prohibited / Important Info / Reef Patrol
Location:
Papua New Guinea is an independent country comprised of an island group situated to the north of Australia. Mainland Papua New Guinea to the east, and Irian Jaya to the west. The large islands of New Britain and New Ireland lie off the mainland's eastern shores and there are a myriad of smaller island groups within Papua New Guinea's waters. Currents from three seas meet around Papua New Guinea, the Bismarck Sea, the Solomon Sea and the Coral Sea, bringing diverse nutrients to feed the remarkable variety of marine life living in these waters.
Diving:
M.V. FeBrina dives the areas of Kimbe Bay and surrounding waters along the northern coast of New Britain, such as the Witu Islands to the north west and Fathers Reefs to the north east of Kavieng. These waters are home to prolific and diverse marine creatures and corals. Recent marine surveys in Kimbe Bay have recorded over 350 species of reef building corals and over 900 species of fish. The reefs are a photographer's paradise. Pristine and colorful corals are home to a variety of fish, crustacean and invertebrate life. Many of the reefs have resident schools of barracuda, tuna, and jacks. A range of shark species are regularly sighted, including hammerheads and silvertips, particularly at the outer reefs of Fathers and Witu. Visibility ranges from 80 to 150 feet, depending on the season and water temperatures range between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather is tropical with little seasonal variation.
Most diving is from FeBrina's spacious dive deck, with easy access via the water level dive platform. Some of the reefs are current washed, without current the spectacular marine life would not be there, however, the wide range of dive sites means that it is not necessary to dive at a site if currents are unmanageable at the time.
Included In Your Package:
ound-trip transfers from and to the closest airport are provided if you arrive and depart on FeBrina's schedule. All cabins are fitted with individual air-conditioning, vanity basins and porthole views. Cabins 5, 6 and 7 have ensuite bathroom facilities. Twin Cabins 3 and 4 and single cabins 1 and 2 have share bathroom facilities with two bathrooms situated on the same level as the cabins and shared between maximum of 6 guests. Breakfast cooked to order, buffet lunch and gourmet dinner are served daily in addition to fresh mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks (a glass of complimentary Australian wine or other beverage of your choice will be served with dinner). Bathrobes are available for your use on board. Linens, towels and daily laundry service are included. Guests have the opportunity to do between four and five dives a day. Filled tanks, weights and weightbelt are included. Your meal at Walindi Resort on the final night is included if voyage concludes at Walindi.
Not Included In Your Package:
Airfare, bar beverages (Spirits are prohibitively expensive in PNG. It is best to bring your own scotch, gin, vodka, rum or whatever you drink from Australia), dive gear, Nitrox, photo processing and boatique purchases. Method of payment for these items may be in US dollars, Travelers Cheques or credit cards (American Express, Mastercard or Visa are accepted). Please note that credit card payments must be converted to Kina for processing, and so exchange rate differences mean that the ultimate charge back to your credit card may be higher than the US$ amount originally paid. Please bring sufficient cash or travellers cheques to cover your on-board tab if you wish to avoid this difference in charge. NO PERSONAL CHECKS ARE ACCEPTED.
Gratuities:
Payment of gratuities is entirely at the discretion of the guest. We suggest US$15.00 per guest per day.
Pre-Trip Preparation:
Unless specified otherwise, FeBrina departs from and returns to Walindi Resort, Kimbe Bay and you will need to fly into Hoskins airport from which transfers are arranged to the Walindi Wharf and FeBrina. Commercial airlines with service to Papua New Guinea include Air New Guinea and Qantas. Itineraries beginning or ending in Rabaul will provide transfers from Rabaul airport to the FeBrina.
Travel Documents:
American and Canadian citizens must carry a PASSPORT with at least six months validity and obtain a TOURIST VISA directly from the Papua New Guinea Embassy 202-745-3680). Visas can also be arranged upon arrival at the airport in Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea (cost at at 1 Jan 2007 is PGK100), , however, we recommend that you obtain your visa in advance. For assistance you may choose to contact a travel documentation company which will charge additional fees for their services. May we recommend Travel Document Systems, Inc.; 734 Fifteenth St. N.S., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. Phone: 202-638-3800 or 800-424-8472. Guests of all other nationalities should check if further documentation is required … some European country passport holders are required to arrange their visas in advance of arrival into Papua New Guinea. This can take some time and it is recommended that application for visa be commenced 6 weeks from departure date. Please contact our reservations staff for assistance with Letter of Support required to submit with Visa Application for these special countries.
Trip Insurance:
We recommend that you purchase comprehensive accident, medical, luggage and trip cancellation insurance when you reserve your space.
EVACUATION INSURANCE is compulsory.
We strongly recommend DAN INSURANCE or DAN TRAVEL ASSIST. DAN are the experts in diving related evacuations and endorse an in country chamber. For dive related accidents (e.g. decompression sickness) mobilization of evacuation resources by DAN is immediate.
Diving Paperwork:
Please bring your certification card and log book(s) for verification of your dive training/experience. You will be required to complete and sign a standard release and waiver form prior to diving on MV FeBrina. Please ensure you have a copy of the waiver form prior to arriving into Papua New Guinea … contact our reservations staff for a copy of waiver.
Packing:
Please plan to travel light, as on all liveaboards space is limited. We recommend that you pack your gear in soft luggage such as duffle bags for easy stowage and leave those large, rigid suitcases at home which will add to your comfort in your cabin. For guests on longer itinerary, it is advised to pack separately the gear you will require on board. FeBrina has storage facilities on shore at Walindi for items you will not require on board, or for those larger suitcases once you have removed the necessary items for your trip. Remember that laundry is done daily, if required, and pack accordingly. Clothing should be lightweight, comfortable sportswear and bathing suits are a must. A light sweater or throwover is ideal for evening - especially during the months of June through August. Dress aboard FeBrina is always casual, however it should be noted that Papua New Guineans in New Britain will be offended by ladies with uncovered upper thighs. Please bring a sarong to cover up with when in sight of shore.
Additional items you may want to bring are sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or visor and bug spray or lotion. Hair dryers are provided in each cabin. In case of rough weather, or if you have a tendency toward sea sickness, over the counter motion medication should be purchased prior to arrival. You may wish to pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, bathing suit, change of clothes and essential items in your carry-on bag. This will make it easier in the event your luggage is delayed.
Emergency Procedures:
The FeBrina crew is trained in first aid and diving accident management. The boat is equipped with a complete first aid kit and a high quality oxygen system. It should b e noted that the closest hyperbaric chamber is located in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and in the event air evacuation is required this must be arranged through private means. Since emergency transportation and treatment cost is the responsibility of each guest, we strongly recommend that you obtain special insurance for divers such as DAN or PADI Accident Insurance. Your family may contact you in the event of an emergency by calling direct to Walindi Resort in Papua New Guinea at 011-675-935441 from the U.S.
Precaution:
As Malaria is prevalent in Papua New Guinea, you should consult your personal physician in reference to anti-malarial preventative medication and/or the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta 404-639-3311.
Food:
Meals are prepared by your on-board chef, and the menu consists mainly of Western style meals. If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise us so we can prepare to adequately meet your needs.
Beverages:
FeBrina's selection includes fruit juices, soft drinks, plenty of iced water (not bottled), tea and coffee and Australian wines at dinner. Fresh milk is not available in PNG, although UHT long life milk is readily available and provided on board. Herbal teas are not always available. We encourage you to consume lots of liquids during the week to avoid dehydration. The water on board is a mixture of desalinated water and spring water from Walindi.
Entertainment:
FeBrina has a multi-system tv/video unit for video tape and camera playback, compact disc player and cassette deck. If you have a favorite movie, a slide show or a video to share, we encourange you to bring it along! You may also bring your own favorite musical tapes, CD's, etc.
Electricity:
The electrical current on FeBrina is 240Volts. North American travelers may wish to bring a voltage converter with them for the use of small appliances. There is a 110V charging station for cameras and photography equipment located on the back dive deck.
Local Currency:
The local currency is the PNG Kina which is currently exchanged at a rate of approximately 1.25 to 1 U.S. Dollar, however, the Kina is floating so you may want to research the exchange rate at the time of your departure.
Dive Equipment:
Equipment provided aboard the FeBrina includes tanks, weights and weight belts. The basic diving equipment you bring with you should be a regulator, depth and pressure gauge, watch or bottom timer, buoyancy compensation device (BCD), mask, fins, and snorkel. We also recommend a safety sausage and Dive Alert or whistle. Additional recommended equipment are a dive computer, dive light (with extra batteries or charging unit) and a dive skin and/or wetsuit. Water temperature rarely goes below 85 degrees (20 C degrees) during the winter (June to August) at which time a dive skin or 3mm wetsuit should be sufficient for most divers.
Rental Dive Gear:
FeBrina does not carry rental dive equipment, although a very small amount of gear and dive computers are kept on board for guests' use. Should you require the use of the boat's gear, please advise your requirements well in advance of your trip, so we can ensure there is suitable gear available. We highly recommend you bring your own mask, fins and boots to ensure your diving is as comfortable as possible. Spare wet suits and dive skins are NOT kept on board. Walindi Resort's dive shop has a limited supply of masks, boots and fins for sale.
Photographic Equipment:
Rental photo equipment is not available on board FeBrina. No matter what system you have, you will probably experience excellent results. Be sure to pack your photo equipment carefully in a durable carrying case and bring any unique spare parts and back-up equipment with you. FeBrina's location is remote and spares are not available. There is a 110 volt charging station on the back deck for photography gear.
Equipment Prohibited:
Guests are prohibited from bringing "game taking" equipment on board the FeBrina. Guests may remove nothing from the sea.
Important Information:
Controlled substances and illegal drug are strictly prohibited aboard FeBrina. Penalties for the sale,use or possession of controlled substances in PNG is SEVERE.
While we provide dive briefings prior to dives and limit our diving to no-decompression sport diving, each diver is responsible for his or her individual profile consistent with the standards and limitations of his or her certifying organization.
Reef Patrol:
PLEASE respect the environment and dive safely. FeBrina encourages good buoyancy skills and basic ecological concepts in order to minimize any detrimental effects of divers and scuba diving within the Papua New Guinea reef system.
On behalf of the M/V FeBrina crew, we look forward to seeing you aboard and providing you with a 1st class diving experience. We'll see you aboard soon!
Thank you,
Captain Alan Raabe and Max Benjamin
Walindi Plantation Dive Cruises Pty. Ltd.
|
